2001 - Adopt-A-Platoon

The Newman's Own Awards for Military Community Excellence - 2001

RECOGNIZING PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING THE MILITARY

The Honorable Charles S. Abell, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management Policy assisted in presenting $45,000 in grants to 12 private organizations for their innovative programs to improve military quality of life throughout the Department of Defense. The recipients of "The Newman's Own Award Recognizing Private Organizations" were announced at the July 10, 2001 ceremony at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes. Three organizations jointly sponsor the award: Fisher House Foundation, the Military Times Media Group and Newman's Own - an organization headed by actor Paul Newman. These sponsoring organizations presented a challenge to the many private and nonprofit groups that support the military: Present an innovative plan to improve the quality of life for your military community and receive funding to carry out the plans. The grants ranged from $2,000 to --> 0,000 per organization. Four of these grants will be used to improve the quality of life of soldiers and their families.

$5,000 Grant

"Adopt-A-Platoon," sponsored by the Northern New York - Fort Drum Chapter of the Association of the U. S. Army, is a program of community involvement and support to deployed units of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry). Sponsoring organizations develop innovative ways to communicate their appreciation and support to deployed soldiers. Since inception, 170 organizations in both the private and public sector have adopted more than 1,000 platoons, affecting the quality of life of more than 30,000 soldiers and their family members. For further information, contact Michael T. Plummer at PlumMike@aol.com

$3,000 Grant

The Military Child Education Coalition of Harker Heights, Texas (outside the gates of Fort Hood) addresses the educational needs of military children, especially in the transition from one school to another. The Coalition trains counselors in schools, which support military installations, with a goal of easing the transition into a new school, negotiating issues such as class placement and course selection. For further information, contact Dr. Mary Keller at Mary.Keller@MilitaryChild.org.

$2,500 Grants

PULSAR (Police, Public educators, and Peer facilitators Utilizing Leadership for Students at Risk) was initially developed in Staunton, Virginia as an intervention model for high-risk adolescents. It is now a program sponsored by the Fort Bragg/Pope Air Force Base Armed Services YMCA, administered by the military police at the two installations, and benefiting at risk military children. Still in the developmental stages, PULSAR continues to raise funds and plans to implement the program in the spring of 2002. For further information, contact Lynne M. Grates at LGratesASYMCA@Earthlink.net

"Adoptaplatoon," a soldier support effort from Kingston, New Hampshire, promotes the sending of morale lifting mail and care packages to deployed service members. A "Platoon Mom" is directly linked to each supported unit to ensure that each participating soldier receives mail or other requested support. The grant money will be used to put together care packages for soldiers stationed in Kosovo. For further information, contact Myron Dobson at Triad@ttlc.net. To learn more about the "Adoptaplatoon" program, the organization's web site can be visited at www.adoptaplatoon.org.